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The Independent Schools Risk Barometer 2024 explores the top risks within the independent education sector and focuses on key areas of concern, including managing mental health and wellbeing, mergers and acquisitions, and school building safety.
Research1 from the insurer revealed the biggest concerns for independent school leaders in the UK are the costs of maintaining school buildings (22%), managing the mental health and wellbeing of pupils (21%), and recruitment and retention of teachers (20%). The cost-of-living crisis (19%), managing mental health and wellbeing of staff (19%), and school inspections (19%) were also key concerns cited.
The Independent Schools Risk Barometer 2024 is the latest in a series of sector insights from Ecclesiastical Insurance, combining independent research with specialist knowledge from the insurer.
The report covers the key risks, challenges, as well as opportunities facing independent schools, including:
- Pupil safeguarding
- Pupil mental health
- Staff mental health
- Recruitment/retention of teachers
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Sustainable school buildings
- School building safety/repair, and maintenance
“As one of the leading insurers of independent schools in the UK, Ecclesiastical is passionate about supporting the independent education sector. It’s no surprise to see that the cost-of-living crisis has exacerbated some of the biggest challenges facing independent schools, and the costs of maintaining school buildings were cited as the biggest concern by independent school leaders. We hope this report will encourage independent schools to think about the risks they may face and how best to protect their organisations for the future.”
View The Independent Schools Risk Barometer 2024
Ecclesiastical Insurance offers a range of risk management support and guidance to help independent schools manage the risks they face. For more information, see our education risk guidance.
1 The survey was commissioned by Ecclesiastical Insurance and conducted by OnePoll with 250 UK independent school leaders (including bursars, head teachers, deputy head teachers, heads of departments) 8 – 14 February 2024.